STEVE Rabie, returning councillor and former mayor of Mansfield Shire was re-elected as mayor when the new council met for their first ordinary meeting on Tuesday November 26.
The council have opted for continuity and experience with James Tehan, another returning councillor and former mayor, selected to deputise for Mayor Cr Rabie.
Mayor Cr Rabie and Deputy Mayor Cr Tehan will hold their positions for a period of 12 months, with the next mayoral election to be held at the council’s ordinary meeting in November 2025.
Both positions were uncontested and the motions to elect the councillors to their roles were passed unanimously.
Mayor Cr Rabie, who attended 100 per cent of the last council’s meetings across their four year term, said he was pleased to have the trust of his fellow councillors to lead the team into 2025.
“It is indeed a privilege and an honour, one that I take very seriously," he said.
“It’s a new term and I’m sure we all have the same goal, continuing to keep the shire on its current course, being financially responsible in the management of our ratepayer’s money.”
Chief amongst Mayor Cr Rabie’s ambitions for the next twelve months and indeed the entire four year term is to continue to support the historical society as they aim to complete their museum, lobbying for the Mansfield Emergency Services hub, lobbying for new childcare facilities to keep up with the growing population, overseeing the completion of the works at Highton Lane and Rifle Butts Road, and showing the world that Mansfield Shire is open for business while continuing to listen to the ratepayers.
Deputy Mayor Cr James Tehan declared that the new council would form on the strong foundations left in place by the previous council.
“I am committed to continuing to serve the community through a new council term,” he said.
“I ran again to provide stability in local government as this community works through the challenges of a period of significant growth.
"As a new council, we continue to be committed to strong financial management of ratepayer funds and strategic town planning."
Mansfield Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Alexander congratulated the mayor and deputy mayor.
“I look forward to working with the new council, the mayor and deputy mayor and congratulate them on being elected to their positions,” she said.
The matter of the mayor and deputy mayor settled, the machine clicked into gear and the council went about their business.
Over the course of the 60 minute ordinary meeting, the council dealt with a range of tasks that included the CEO’s report, the quarterly finance report, a planning permit application for a property in Bridge Creek, the determination of the council’s meeting schedule for the next 12 months, and the selection of council representatives for the various committees, networks, and alliances they are tasked with attending.